Party at Castle Darkendale

There was an air of anticipation and excitement as we arrived at Castle Darkendale for its grand opening. We were long overdue a break from turmoil and chaos, and looked forward to a relaxing few days in excellent company and, for once, relative safety. Many of the clan who had not ventured out before therefore decided to join us for the ride - and finally meet our Lantian friends in their lands.

We were not disappointed: Lady Adara’s staff were most effective, efficient and obliging, her bar was well stocked (at least, it was till we arrived and drained it dry!), her caterers provided a most excellent cuisine (and fine dancing partners too) and – of course – the company was superb. The Bears present made our mark, as always, returning the favour of the Lions at Hearth and Home by walking away with the major prizes from our host’s competitions. The party was truly a celebration of the hospitality of House Darkendale.

The Entertainers’ Competition was a fine start to the proceedings, following Lady Adara’s opening speeches and a fine meal, and plenty of talent was on display: not least from a local band of gypsies and their charming Queen. [Apparently, I make quite a good King of the Gypsies!] There were songs and stories, poems and readings, some serious and some certainly not. For my part, I retold a tale told once to me in a tavern, of the Caledonian hero, James MacBond. In the end, however, it was cousin Bedwyr who took the prize, with a most excellent rendition of the tale of Black Douglas: ably supported by Cailean. The following morn, we rose ready to do battle in a variety of tourneys: first, of archery – which Oaken secured despite heavy competition from one of the gypsies. Bedwyr, not the smallest of Caledonians, made a surprisingly illusive target for the archers as he dashed from tree to tree, weighed down by a heavy PB’s shield – which was also used as a most useful target for the tests of accuracy.

Then the combat tourneys: split into single sword, sword and shield, and open. The standard of the fighters was excellent, their sportsmanship also very high, and it proved a most enjoyable competition. To my surprise, I found myself the winner of the sword competition – to be joined in a fight for the highest honour by Aldous of the Celestial Knights (sword and shield) and Tobias, a mighty beastkin from House Soulsplitter (open – twin swords).

The fighting was decided by first to score 5 clear hits, and this continued into our battle to decide the final champion. I fought Aldous and triumphed, 5-4, before losing to Tobias by the same score, only for Aldous to beat the beastkin: 1 apiece and still no victor. [I should note that Tobias insisted I picked up a second sword to match his style, to keep our fight even.] And so we laid down our chosen arms and replaced them with but a single dagger apiece. Again we fought, and blows reigned in thick and fast and free. Again the battle was more finely drawn than a stocking’s draw. I faced off against first Aldous again, and then Tobias, and the two of us landed blows so swiftly and close that none could call it apart.

And so, in desperation to force a result, the three of us entered the ring together – only one would emerge triumphant. We circled, we stepped, we flurried and tested, we dummied and tempted, and then we struck. Later, a good friend of mine was to liken our fight to the ceillidh that followed – a very telling observation! But, for this clash, as we weaved and wrought, Aldous was forced to concede and it came down to the huge beastkin and I, his reach against my speed. After a long series of bouts and simultaneous hits, I finally was adjudged to have scored the winning blow – and the victory, and title of Champion, fell on my shoulders.

I could think of few finer warriors to have with me in any fight, by side or back to back. And I look forward to drinking and standing with them in the Summer. Bedwyr and the other Bears also fought bravely and skilfully. T’was a shame Cailean missed it, but I fear his heroic efforts with the Darkendale bar took their toll.

The afternoon saw us all relaxing in the shade, or the sun, making music and merriment as we watched the staff flush out exotic wildfoul for the resident archers to practise their feats… and for various of the guests to practise their keen wits against the trickery of the intervening trees! For my part, what aid I could offer procured me a pretty young lass who fell from the tree at my very feet – I like these Lantian woodlands!

All that was left now was to check the voting box to see whom we had crowned the ‘Oak King’, resurrecting traditions documented in some parchment found in the castle’s vaults. After much rigging and re-rigging, as first Will the gypsy’s 60-odd votes for himself and then all the votes for Oaken (courtesy of the clan and her Grace) went missing, it was deemed that Ilyrio - camped next to the box all evening, but believably surprised by the outcome - was the one to best represent him! He crowned Lady Helena his May Queen, and off they went to do the necessaries...

And then it was time to change for dinner, for the evening’s feast and festivities. I had the honour of accompanying Her Grace, m’Lady du Bois, to the Head Table – where we feasted and watched the proceedings until it was time for music and dancing! And then we all danced the night away, despite Grog’s best efforts to bring the house down (and the caller as well!), and I ensured as many a fine Lantian Lady as possible was swept across the floor.

Come the morn, I was called back home – but the rest remained for the final games of the day: circles of treachery and Lantian bingo!

 

All Works are © Original Author

(OC Author - Paul Martin)